Preventative Care for Cats

18th May 2017

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It’s your duty of care to keep your beloved pet safe and healthy. All animals can suffer from health ailments throughout their lives, this is unfortunately par for the course.
However, you can prevent certain illnesses and long term ailments down the line if you are diligent and take preventative measures to keep your cat healthy and well.

Bad breath isn’t a given in cats – bring them in for regular check-ups, brush your cat’s teeth regularly.

Gums should be firm and pink.

Monitor your cat’s ears weekly for wax, debris or infection. The outer ear shouldn’t have any bald spots and the inner ear is pink and clean. There should be no debris or odour and not too much wax.

You can clean the outer ear with liquid ear cleaner and cotton wool, but don’t prod inside inner ear.

To check eyes, make sure they are clear, bright, the area around it is white, and their pupils are the same size. The eyelid should be pink.

Wipe away crustiness with a damp cotton wool ball. Use a fresh one for each eye.

Cats should have an annual exam, or more if they are old. You should review their vaccination status, parasite control, dental health, exercise, ears, eyes, stomach, breathing, feet and legs, hair and skin.

It’s your duty of care to keep your beloved pet safe and healthy. All animals can suffer from health ailments throughout their lives, this is unfortunately par for the course.
However, you can prevent certain illnesses and long term ailments down the line if you are diligent and take preventative measures to keep your cat healthy and well.

Groom!

Regular grooming is essential for your cat – brushing them will help them keep their coats clear of dirt and pests as well as minimise hairballs though you can’t avoid them altogether.

Check their eyes, ears and teeth regularly

Your cat’s eyes should be clear and bright. The area around their eyes should be white and their pupils should each be the same size. Their eyelids should be pink. Check these things on a regular basis and look out for:

Crustiness

Inflammation

Watering or discharge

Eye colour change or cloudiness in the eye

Eyelids that are red or white

Difficulty opening the eyes

Behavioural signs of distress or irritation

If you find their eye(s) to be a bit gunky, carefully wipe the area with damn cotton wool. Use treats to soothe them and make sure you use different cotton pads for each eye.

If their eyes continue to show signs of illness, take them to the vets.

When it comes to teeth, it’s important that you brush your cat’s teeth regularly to avoid a build-up of plaque or bacteria. Use a toothpaste especially designed for cats, not humans.
Their gums should be pink and firm and their breath should not smell foul. If they have foul breath, this can be a sign of a build-up of bad bacteria in their mouths or a sign of an underlying health problem so they will need to be seen by their vet.

Keeping their ears clean is important too. Check them regularly for wax, debris or infection. Clean them carefully with a clean cotton bud – wipe gently around the inner and outer ear to clear away any debris or earwax but do not prod or poke inside as this will push dirt inside their ear and can cause a nasty infection. You could also cause damage to their ears.

If your cat shows any of these signs, they may be suffering from an ear problem:

Take your cat straight to the vet if they are showing these signs. Ear infections can be very painful if not treated promptly.

Keep little visitors away

Fleas, ticks and mites can cause a great nuisance to both cat and owners, so keeping them away is best for everyone.
Keep your cat up to date with flea and worm treatment at the vets is highly recommended, as is regular grooming as mentioned earlier.

Check them for fleas regularly – use a comb, around the base of the tail to see if any flea dirt can be picked up on the prongs. Excessive scratching is a sign of an infestation so keep an eye on that.

Keeping your home flea free is also a good idea to avoid eggs hatching and causing an infestation. Vacuum regularly, especially where your cat sleeps. Wash bedding and furniture covers at a high temperature.

Healthy diet

As with people, giving a cat a healthy nutritious diet will go a long way in keeping them healthy and well. Don’t overfeed your cat- obesity can cause so many other health problems.
Be informed on what nutrients your cat needs and monitor them for intolerance or sensitivities so you can choose the right food.

For a perfect balance of protein and nutrients, have a look at our range of wet and dry cat foods. We also have a range of balanced kitten food, perfect for setting your kitten up for a healthy life.

Annual check up

Taking your cat to the vet at least once a year for a full health check is highly recommended. Your veterinarian’s trained eye may spot a health problem that you have not and be able to catch something early.
They can check their weight, their skin, their eyes, ears and mouth as well as have a feel of their tummies and bones to check that everything looks normal.

Keep them up to date with their vaccinations and parasite treatment – and make sure they get plenty of exercise, stimulation and attention from you.

These preventative measures will go a long way to protect your cat from lurking health issues that can make them miserable and unwell.